Showdown featured on YouTube. Click on here to view a video explaining the basics of the game. This video is in Swedish language with English subtitle.

To see a video in French language with English subtitle please click here.

Showdown is a fast-moving sport originally designed for people with a visual impairment, but you don´t have to be blind to play! Sometimes it is mistakenly referred to as table tennis for the blind because it is a table game. However, it does not have courts marked on the table; therefore points are scored by hitting the ball into a goal pocket. Sighted people and those with disabling conditions other than blindness fin d this game challenging.

Joe Lewis, a totally blind Canadian, had an idea in 1977 to create a game or sport which could be played recreationally and/or competitively without sighted assistance.

Patrick York, a Canadian athlete who is also totally blind, collaborated with Lewis on refinements to the rules and equipment. Patrick York was also the major influence in creating the table design. After years of working together the first table and the game of Showdown was played in 1980.

Showdown was an international success at its debut as a recreational sport during the 1980 Olympiad for the Physically Disabled in Arnhem, Holland. International interest was sparked and Showdown has been played recreationally at the: 1984 Olympics for the Disabled in Long Island, USA; 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul, Korea; 1990 World Youth Games in St. Etienne, France; 1990 World Championships in Assen, The Netherlands; 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain; 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta USA: In 1998 World games in Madrid Spain. And in 1999, at the Pam-am games in Mexico City.

The sport is inexpensive to start up, requires minimal maintenance, and can be played in a room the size of a classroom or meeting room. The only equipment needed is the specially designed table, two bats, special ball into which metal bee bees have been inserted, and A SPECIAL glove for the batting hand, and opaque eyeprotection. Sound produced by the bee bees rolling around inside the ball indicates the location of the ball during the play.

Showdown is easy to learn. The object of the game is to bat the ball off the side wall, along the table, under the centre screen, and into the opponent´s goal. The first player to reach eleven points, leading by two or more points, is the winner. Each player serves two times in a row. Player score two points for a goal and one point when their opponent hits the ball into the screen, hits the ball off the table, or touches the ball with anything but the bat or batting hand.

Caption: Poland won gold in the team event at the 2016 IBSA Showdown European Championships in Italy.

Showdown is being played in countries throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and North and South America. After the success of Showdown at the 1999 Mexico City Panam Games, representatives from more than thirty countries contacted the International Blind Sports Federation Showdown Subcommittee. They wanted information about equipment, blueprints, and rules so they can play this game in their country. Currently, the IBSA Showdown Sub-committee is encouraging regional and national Showdown Tournaments in an effort to have international championships which, hopefully, will lead to sanctioning by the Paralympics. Visit the Facebook page of Showdown